This report summarises data on the prescription and distribution of hepatitis C treatments and provides insight into the initial phase of the roll-out of DAA therapy in Australia.

Key findings:

An estimated 15,493 patient PBS initial prescriptions for hepatitis C direct acting antiviral (DAA) were processed for reimbursement during March to June 2016.

Based on extrapolation of wholesale data to PBS reimbursement data, to account for the time lag in reporting, an estimated 22,470 individuals initiated DAA treatment during March to June 2016, including 7,240 individuals in March, 7,390 individuals in April, 3,250 individuals in May, and 4,590 individuals in June.

It is estimated that 10% of total individuals living with chronic hepatitis C in Australia have initiated DAA treatment during March to June 2016.

Most individuals (79%) were prescribed under the General Schedule (S85). The most commonly prescribed regimen was sofosbuvir/ledipasvir for 58%, followed by sofosbuvir/daclatasvir for 37%.